9 decades of cooperative spirit

Celebrating MTE’s 90th birthday

On May 11, 1936, Middle Tennessee Electric’s story began after local farmers and rural residents dedicated themselves to forming an electric cooperative. Though many things have changed in the past 90 years, our commitment to providing affordable, reliable and safe electricity for our members is not one of them. Each decade has brought new challenges and milestones that have shaped the cooperative into the community-centric, member-focused utility that we are today.

1930s

MTE energized its first 74 miles of line in Dec. 1936, bringing electricity to 125 rural members. By the end of the decade, the cooperative had expanded to 750 miles of line serving around 4,300 members. 

1940s

In anticipation of continued growth, MTE completed its first permanent headquarters in 1942 at the corner of West Lytle Street and North Walnut Street in Murfreesboro. 

1950s

New, modern offices opened in Franklin and Lebanon, replacing rented spaces and improving service to a rapidly growing membership.

1960s

A new office was constructed in Woodbury in 1964 to replace the rented office that opened there in 1949. 

1970s

MTE purchases Franklin Power & Light Company, the City of Franklin’s municipal electric utility, growing our service territory to 33,363 meters.

1980s

MTE begins using electric handheld devices to read meters rather than logging data by hand, and the first MTE logo was created.

1990s

The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system is introduced on MTE’s system, offering a way to electronically monitor the grid for problems like downed lines and blown transformers.

2000s

MTE began serving 137,000 meters across more than 7,900 miles of line following the purchase of the Lebanon Electric Department in 2000.

2010s

After hearing members’ calls for broadband in rural areas across Middle Tennessee, MTE purchased a controlling interest in United Communications in 2018. This launched a significant, ongoing initiative to bring high-speed internet to underserved areas.

2020s

MTE rang in the decade by merging with the Murfreesboro Electric Department, increasing our footprint to serve the Downtown Murfreesboro area. Following decades of strategic planning, innovation and hard work, MTE has grown to become the second-largest electric cooperative in the nation, proudly serving more than 360,000 member accounts across 15,200 miles of line.